Dancing tap and toe support



y 1934- A. L. SOTHEN 1,967,334

DANCING TAP AND TOE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l vd'llllllllllIll//IllI-" July 24, 1934. sQTHEN 1,967,334

DANCING TAP AND TOE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 115, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 53'\AAw; azfggfqrzzar 43 40 O $556M @fifimbm Patented July 24, 1934. p

I Albert, L. S othen, emcaggo, n1.

- Application September 13, 1933, Serial No. 689,306

f 3 j Clai nsV (01. 36-83) iThis invention relates to "dancing: taps andtoe supports, andniore particularlyto tap platesprovidedfor-thetoe'parts of dancing shoes."

a "One of the mainobjectsof thisinventionis to 1V5. provide dancing tapswhich are adapted for' wing step dancing, tap dancing and toe standingand are alsoefficient in stiffening the *sole and supporting thedancerfsfoot.

.Another 'object is-"tdprovide-a dancing tap 0. which is equipped withears or similar rear portions that extendfa considerable distancerearmany from thebody part, "alinost to the instep portion of the-"shoe"or"" the* bending portion *cf the solejs'o as toflnd especial adaptationfor-wing v stepdanc'ing; and also 'to[provide the desired rigidity andreinforcement to'the sole ofthe shoe and support for the footfthat whenthe dancer engages in toe stands 'the fo'otis sufficiently su Ported) xir furtherobjec is *to provide an efficient dancing tapand toe supportwhich as "considerable utility-'andis light, durable and inexpensive.

Theseanavanous otherobje'ctsf and advan-' tages will become apparentfrom the following 2 description; takeiiin connection with the aC0m-'panying drawings, in which the invention is shownin several'preferredforms, itbeing understood that various other arrangements and forms ofconstruction may be resorted to for carrying utthe objects and purposesof this invention;

I In-the drawings? Fig. lisa perspective view of a shoeshowing one ofthe for'ms'of my invention applied thereto. Figkz isia 'topplan view ofsaid form of sane;

-Fig5 3 is a vertical cross 'section thereof, taken 'o'hline3-3o'fFig."2. p

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of dancing tam-Fig; 51s avertical section, taken on line --4 5-5 of Fig. 4; while Fig. 6 is afront elevational view thereof. 1

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another modified form of this invention; andFig. 8 is a vertical section thereof, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modified form; and Fig. 10 is averticalsection thereof, taken on line 10-10 ofFig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of still another modified form ofthe invention;and Fig. 12 is a vertical section thereofltaken on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

In the drawings I have shown my invention embodied in several of thevarious forms developed by me and extensively tested to determine andprove their utility and efiiciency. f

:5 The particular form of dancing tap shown in of the preceding form,and its rear edge 34 is Figs. 1 to 3'i11clusive;cornprises a body partwhich is constructed to conform to the shape of the forward part ofthesole 21'of the shoe 22, and" is arranged: to be secured therebeneath;as for example'by'providin'g apertures 23 insaid body 6 part to extendsuitable fastening elements therethrough into the sole. f l

Thebody part in -this form is made compara' tivel'ylong so as to haveits rearfend 24 extend substantially to the flexing or bending portion21' of the' 'sole, andto be positioned adjacentfthe instep portion 22 ofthe shoe thereabove,-' in order that the connected forwa1'd 'part of theshoe sole will be fully stiffened and yet the shoe may be readily bentorflexed atthe instep portion as may berequired. Said rear end 24 ispreferably indented or curved inwardly at its intermediate part, therebyproviding apair 'of rearwardly extending side ears or wings 25 and 25'outward of saidindentation. In this form the body part 20 is providedwith a peripheral upstanding flange 26 which extends along the front toeportionthe'reof, and further extends entirely along both sides to therear" endof said body part, forming complete side flanges 26" "Ihisflange is integral with thebody part and arises therefroin for thethicknes'so'f the shoe sole or the height of its outer edge. Saidflange, throughout its entire length, bears snugly against the edge ofthe sole and covers it, substantiallyas' indicated in the drawings. I

The body part 20 therein hasits central portion' cut away to leave anopening'2'7, thereby re ducingthe weight of the tap and furthermoremodifying the sound effect thereof. This opening Z'Tiacts substantially:in the nature of a sound opening onasound box, and adds a resoundingtening elements for securing it underneath the sole. It is somewhatshorter than the body part In this form the body part 30 is providedwith an integral upstanding flange 36 which extends only along the frontof the toe portion 37 thereof. It arises substantially for the height ofthe shoe sole, having its upper edge about even with the top of the soleand snugly clasping or bearing against the front edge. This form is thusrendered comparatively light and very eflicient for use in tap dancingas well as in wing step dancmg.

The form of tap shown in Figs. 9 and 10 comprises a body part 40conforming to theforward part of the sole of the shoe, and beingpositioned substantially under the toe part thereof. Apertures 43 areprovided therein for receiving suitable elements to secure the tapunderneath the sole. The rear edge 44 of the body part is in dented toform a pair of rearwardly extending side ears or wings 45 and 45. v

This form has an integral upstanding flange 46 at the front of its toepart, which extends for substantially the thickness of the shoe sole.-It is relatively thick at the front or. central portion and has asubstantially flat front face 4'7 thereon,

the shape of the forward part of the shoe sole, and

is provided with openings 53 for receiving suitable securing elements tofasten it under the sole. H

The body part in this'form is made comparatively long so that its rearend 54 extends substantially to the instep portion of the shoe or theflexing portionof the sole, to properly stiffen the sole and yet permitthe desired flexing at the instep portion, in a manner similar to thatdescribed regarding body part 20 shown in Fig. 2. Its rear edge isindented at the intermediate part to form a pair of rearwardlyextendingside ears or wings 55 and 55.

An upstanding flange 56 is provided at thefront or toe portion on thisbody part 50, and arisessubstantially for the height of the sole and'tobear snugly against the same, substantially as in the preceding forms,the top of the flange being also substantially level with the top of thesole.

The body part 50 herein also has its central portion cut away to leavean opening 5'7, thereby reducing the weight of the tap, andfurthermoreproducing a modified sound effect, substantially as in theform illustrated in Fig. 2. The form of this invention illustrated inFigs.

7 and 8 is adapted for tapdancingfland is also particularly adapted as atoe protector for use on childrensor kiddies shoes, which are relativelybroad at the toe part. They are provided in pairs, one being for theright and the other for the left shoe; and they are especially effectivein preventing the breaking and tearing of the toe part of the sole andalso of the upper of the shoe. Each tap comprises a body part 60 adaptedto fit under the toe portion of the sole of the shoe, and havingopenings 61 therein for receiving fastening elements 62 to extend intothe shoe sole 63 for securing the device underneath the sole. Its rearedge 64 is indented centrally, thereby providing rearwardly extendingears or wings 65 and 65; and an integral flange 66 extends upwardly fromthe front or toe part thereof to substantially the height of the sole ofthe shoe and to bear firmly against the same.

These members are adapted for shoes of children, both as dancing tapsand as toe protectors; and are also adapted for the shoes of ballplayers and golfers, to protect the forward part of "the upper and thesole, finding especial utility for pitchers whenpitching ball and forgolfers when making a drive, as they prevent theground from coming incontact with the toe part of the upper and thus protect it as well asthe sole of the shoe. 7

I claim: v

1. A dancing .tap comprisinga body part conforming to the shape of andadapted to be secured under the forward part of the sole of a shoe, anda vertically upstanding integral flange curved in conformity with andengaging the front end of the shoe sole, the front part of said flangehaving a substantially vertical flat face provided thereon, forperforming toe stands.

2. A dancing tapof light metal comprising a body part conformin'gtotheshape of and adapted to'be. secured under the toe part of the sole ofa shoe, and an integral relativelythick flange at the front of said bodypart extending upwardly substantially the thickness of the sole andbearing against its front edge, the front part of said flange having asubstantially flat vertical face provided thereon, for performing toestands.

3. A dancing tap comprising a body part adapted to conform to the shapeof and be secured under. the front part of the sole of a dancing shoe,and having an integral peripheral flange extending around the front andthe sides thereof, ;the main part of which extends upwardly for,substantially the thickness of the sole and clasps its front edge, and apair of relatively long side wings extending rearwardly on said bodypart, providing an indentation therebetween extending a substantialdistance toward the toe end, said wings extending substantially to theball part'of the toes, thereby adapting this tap especially for wingstep dancing in addition to tap dancing.

. ALBERT L. SOTHEN.

